"Why book? A smart 18th century palazzo on Rome’s bustling Via del Corso, where breakfast in bed is standard and the staff make you feel right at home Set the scene As far as locations go, they don’t come much better than Corso 281, right in the thick of it on Rome’s iconic shopping thoroughfare, Via del Corso. Turn left and you’ll head towards Piazza Venezia, and all of Rome’s ancient archeological historic sites; turn right and you’ll soon find yourself strolling by the Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon. Via del Corso one of Rome’s most popular (and busiest) shopping streets, drawing a mixed crowd of international tourists, Italian teenagers out for the day with friends, and local families enjoying a daily passeggiata stroll. The backstory With many of Rome’s hotels run by conglomerates, Corso 281 stands out for its personalized, one-to-one approach. Owner and former lawyer Natalino Gisonna is at the hotel daily and runs everything directly, from managing all hotel requests to offering a tailored concierge service that effectively involves him recommending the kind of off-the-radar places only locals know about. Gisonna has loved hotels from a young age – hence the career change – and is big on guest relations, so his staff are some of the friendliest imaginable. No request is too much for Gisonna’s team and they’ll happily use their pull around town to make sure you get the best Roman experience possible, whether that means getting exclusive early access into the Vatican, getting you that table at the exclusive Roman restaurant that’s been booked out for months, or even arranging a helicopter day trip to Capri. The rooms There are 12 luxury suites spread over four floors, all designed by Milanese architect Chiara Caberlon. The décor is minimalist with a beige, black and white colour-scheme, while furnishings tend to feature lots of sharp angles (hardwood flooring, Carrara marble). Yet, somehow, it works. Maybe it’s the fact that the personalised approach continues in the rooms; guests can choose their preferred pillow and mattress type, as well as the champagne they’d like in their mini bar. Bathrooms are big, with rainshowers, soft robes and Bulgari soaps. All rooms are family-friendly – even the smallest Deluxe Room has a King bed and a double pull-out bed. Smaller rooms overlook the internal courtyard, while the bigger suites come with spacious balconies and views over Rome. Food and drink There’s no on-site restaurant per-se, but an excellent breakfast, made to your requests, is served in your room daily and you can also request private in-suite dinners catered by your own personal chef. The hotel’s basement – a former bank vault – is decked out like a private salon, with hard cover design bibles and a liquor cabinet stocked with over 200 exclusive and rare vintages. For families Despite its sleek, magazine-worthy décor (where you might be worried about grubby mits touching the immaculate walls) Corso 281 love children. All kids get their very own welcome kit, complete with a teddy, slippers and toy. Children under the age of 3 stay for free. Accessibility The property has one accessible room." - Maresa Manara
